Lithuania views Belarus as a source of risk for Europe, similar to Russia, according to President Gitanas Nausėda. Speaking at a joint briefing with President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv, Nausėda emphasized that Belarus has not been independent since the so-called presidential elections.
He pointed out that Russia has been conducting military exercises on Belarusian territory and launched attacks on Ukraine from there. Furthermore, tensions are rising along Belarus's western border.
"Lithuania has a significant border with Belarus, so we are closely monitoring the situation. Belarus is also organizing the dispatch of illegal migrants to our territory in an attempt to destabilize the situation. We have successfully countered these attempts, but it does not mean Belarus will stop trying," Nausėda said.
He added that Belarusian operations have now shifted to the Polish border, and neither Poland nor the EU can tolerate this.
"We view this state (Belarus) without illusions and recognize it as another source of risk for all of us. We always advocate at European Union forums for applying the same sanctions to Belarus as to Russia," the Lithuanian President emphasized.
In this context, he reminded that the EU recently adopted another sanctions package specifically for Belarus.
"And this is not the end. We must demand even stricter measures," Nausėda concluded.
